Lifespan of Presidential Children

I.) Realized Life Span of Presidential Children

The following figures reflect the life expectancy of presidential children compared to the general public. Column one shows all presidential children. Included in this number are children born after the president has left office and is no longer in the spotlight or children who are grown adults when their father is elected.

Theoretically, presidential children should have longer than average life spans because they experience a better than average lifestyle and earn a better than average education, both factors that affect life expectancy.

The second column shows the life span of presidential children based on their age at the time of their father's inauguration. This shows the impact of stress associated with living a public life. To determine life expectancy for the various ages I drew on data from the charts developed by Robert Gilbert in his work The Mortal Presidency.

These numbers exclude the childhood death factor. Such deaths are fairly random and introduce wide swings in the averages. For example, life expectancies in the 18th and 19th centuries were lowered drastically by childhood mortality rates. Once a person got beyond the very early years, the expectancy more reasonably approximated a "normal" life. Example: Life expectancy at birth in 1800 was 35.2 but those surviving the teen years had an average life of 55.3 years.

Presidential Children

Years lived beyond or less than the general public

All Live Births Based on their age at Inauguration

Males +7.4 +0.9

Females +1.5 - 3.0

All Children +0.5 - 1.2

II.) The difference between early American and more recent life spans of presidential children

The following chart shows stats for the pre- and post-Civil War Era, using the Grant administration as the dividing line. There are quite radical differences between the two eras that might bare further analysis. Modern presidential parenting is benefiting from new ideas and the children may be learning how to better cope. Modern presidential children are getting excellent educations and business opportunities. They are marrying well. First ladies are getting federal pensions. All these factors may have had some impact.